Victoria Squires, former Together Forces Co-Ordinator at the Offender Management Unit at HMP Doncaster, has recently joined the team at Walking With The Wounded’s Manchester office as the charity’s Family Support Worker.
WWTW supports ex-servicemen and women who have been physically, mentally or socially wounded by their service, and now thanks to Victoria, also their families.
Victoria’s new role will see her delivering high quality direct support to those ex-service personnel and their families who are struggling. She will first assess their needs before developing a bespoke support plan. She will then provide support and advice to ensure positive outcomes.
Victoria will also be working closely with other local agencies by contributing to and participating in initiatives which offer opportunities for vulnerable members of the Greater Manchester community.
Commenting on her new position at WWTW, Victoria Squires says: “This Family Support role is the first in the North West and Walking With The Wounded have already seen some great outcomes within the local veteran community. I am thoroughly enjoying my new role here in Manchester, it gives me great pleasure enabling family members of ex-service personnel to gain necessary support to improve family life and life within the community.”
Since her appointment, Victoria has already achieved life changing outcomes:
After receiving a referral from another military service partner, Victoria was contacted by a widow of a Royal Navy veteran. The lady was homeless and struggling to look after her four children whilst living in a tent. Thanks to WWTW’s excellent relationship with local organisation Adactus Housing Associations, together WWTW and Adactus were able to support this lady and her children into secure accommodation.
WWTW’s collaborative philosophy is crucial to its success. The charity’s office in Manchester plays a key role in developing partnerships with the Council, other military charities and local organisations in order to support the local ex-service community. WWTW’s focus is to improve the pathway back to independence for ex-servicemen and women.
The hub on Canada Street in Manchester, also known as the Veterans’ Village, opened as a result of the BBC DIY SOS programme in 2015. As well as providing an office for the charity’s North West team, it also boasts a Training House offering four short-term, supported beds providing accommodation for beneficiaries completing their journey back into work and independence.
WWTW also oversees a further eighteen supported beds in two other locations in Greater Manchester, in partnership with housing charity Nacro.
North West Operations Manager, Gary Lamb, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Victoria to the team, she’s an incredibly hardworking individual who has been working with WWTW for nearly 3 months. She has seven clients and is already making a difference and changing lives.
“I am really pleased to see the Manchester hub growing and being able to deliver services to family members as well as those who have served in HM forces. This role is a great asset to WWTW and the community of Greater Manchester and the Northwest.”
